SAXBY
Saxby is an English surname that originated from Old‑English linguistic roots. The component seax signified a knife or dagger, while the suffix by denoted a farm or settlement. Consequently, the surname denotes “the settlement associated with a seax.”
Most scholars recognise the surname as a locational name derived from places called Saxby in Leicestershire and Lincolnshire. These villages, whose names mean “Saxi’s farm” or “Sakski’s farm,” incorporate the Old‑Norse element byr, meaning farm or settlement, reflecting the extensive Scandinavian settlement in that region. The earliest recorded use of the modern spelling is the entry for Nicholas de Sxebi in the 1200 Pipe Rolls of Leicestershire.
An alternative derivation traces the name to the Middle English word sakespey, itself derived from the Old French sacquespee. This form is recorded as a nickname for a person quick to draw his sword or a trainer in swordsmanship. The earliest spelling found in surviving documents is Jordan Sacheespee, dated 1183 in the Pipe Rolls of Yorkshire, during the reign of King Henry I.
Early members of the family were noted within Christian communities, such as the christening of Edward Saxby at St. Antholin, Budfe Row, London, on 11 January 1551. Throughout the Middle Ages, the name appears mostly within England, and its bearers are documented in parish registers and legal records across the country.
In contemporary usage, the surname Saxby remains a distinct English family name, rooted in a place-name that reflects the historical interactions between Anglo‑Saxon and Norse linguistic traditions in the British Isles.
Typical given names associated with the Saxby surname
Male
- Alan
- Andrew
- Anthony
- David
- John
- Mark
- Michael
- Paul
- Peter
- Richard
- Robert
Female
- Amanda
- Caroline
- Claire
- Emma
- Helen
- Jacqueline
- Lisa
- Margaret
- Pamela
- Rebecca
- Samantha
- Sarah
- Susan
Similar and related surnames
Related and similar names are generated algorithmically based on the spelling, and may not necessarily share an etymology.
How to communicate the surname Saxby in...
Braille
⠎⠁⠭⠃⠽
Morse
....--..--...-.--
Semaphore
Did you know?
According to a survey carried out by Democracy Club, politicians and candidates with the surname Saxby are most likely to say that their favourite biscuit is a Chocolate Hobnob.
There are approximately 2,640 people named Saxby in the UK. That makes it roughly the 3,375th most common surname in Britain. Around 41 in a million people in Britain are named Saxby.
Surname type: Location or geographical feature
Origin: English
Region of origin: British Isles
Country of origin: England
Religion of origin: Christian
Language of origin: English
Famous people named Saxby
- Mick Saxby - Football player
- Stephen Martin Saxby - UK lieutenant (1804 to 1883)
- Lily Saxby - Actress
Names and descriptions courtesy of Wikipedia, and may contain errors. This is not intended to be an exhaustive list of every famous person with this name.